The following news article is from the Harrisburg Evening News, September 6, 1927, via Newspapers.com.
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19 BUILDINGS ARE BURNED AT FISHERVILLE; WOMEN WORK THE PUMPS
FISHERVILLE, September 6 [1927] — Nineteen buildings are smouldering ruins here today as the result of the disastrous fire which for eight hours yesterday threatened to wipe out this village of 200 inhabitants in northern Dauphin County.
The town was saved from annihilation by the heroic efforts of its men, women and children and volunteer firemen from Harrisburg, Halifax, Millersburg, Duncannon and Elizabethville and a timely change in the direction of the wind.
Six barns, four hog pens, three chicken houses, two sheds, two corn cribs, a workshop and a garage burned to their foundations and several other buildings were scorched and damaged by flying embers. Five hogs, a pet pony and some chickens perished and large quantities of grain, farm machinery and other property were destroyed.
All of the buildings destroyed were on an alley south of the main street and were at the rear of the town’s largest business buildings.
Fisherville has been without telephone communications with the outside world since the fire. Lines of the Bell Telephone Company and the Wiconisco Telephone and Telegraph Company were broken by the fire.
While the damage is estimated at $15,000, twice that sum will be required to rebuild the burned area.
Women Manned Pumps
From the time the fire was discovered by Mrs. G. H. Westbrook, wife of the proprietor of the Victor Hotel, until all danger had passed, the women of the town manned the pumps in their yards and kitchens while fathers, husbands and sons carried the water in every available bucket and tub to the burning buildings.
Armed with wet blankets and buckets of water, the villagers extinguished fires on the roofs and walls of their homes and business buildings when they were repeatedly ignited by flying embers and the intense heat from the fire area.
Among the buildings threatened by the fire were the Victor Hotel, the Fred J. Meckley general store, the Messiah Lutheran Church, the Pythian Hall, and other business buildings. The roof and walls of the home of Mrs. Emma Bixler were burning several times. The homes of John Bixler, Penrose Miller, William Bowman, Miss Dolly Eisenhower, and Samuel Zerfing were in danger.
The barns of W. Henry Miller, Fred J. Meckley, Mrs. Lillie C. K. Snyder, W. H. Miller, the Rev. J. F. Stabley and the Victor Hotel were razed by the flames.
A pet pony owned by Eugene Meckley, 14-year old son of Fred J. Meckley, perished in the Meckley barn.
Church Is Loser
Besides the barn on the Messiah Lutheran Church property, a corn crib, hog pen, chicken house and workshop burned. Tables and benches used by the congregation for the annual picnic were destroyed.
The automobile of Russell Fitting, of Harrisburg, burned in the Victor Hotel garage.
Mrs. Lillie C. E. Snyder lost a wagon, shed and chicken house in addition to her barn. W. Henry Miller‘s corn crib and pig sty burned with his barn.
The cause of the fire was not ascertained. The barn in which it originated is used by the Meckley store for the storage of gain and other merchandise.
The Camp Curtin and Allison Fire Companies, of Harrisburg, responded in the village’s call for help. The fire truck of the former company made the run of twenty-seven miles in thirty-eight minutes. The Allison Fire Company truck was compelled to stop at Halifax because of a sticking valve. It was towed back to the city late last night by the Camp Curtin truck.
The fire was discovered at 2:45 o’clock yesterday afternoon and was smouldering at 11 o’clock last night. Harrisburg firemen returned at 9 o’clock.
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